The Press., 1887-02-10
IsSueiEVery Thursday Evening.
LOCAL TOPICs-PENN'D AND sCIssORED
(Contributed.) KLEPToMANIA IN COVENTRY.

KuEPTOMANIA IN COVENTRY.
 It was on Saturday night 16O years af- ter John Carver laid out his first little New England settlement way back m the Puri- tanic days, when preaching was preaching and blue laws were blue, before any set tier had ever dared even to crack the deca- logue, and before the word crank meant anything more than handle, that the first fragrant sin, of which we have any account, was committed in the town of Coventry, but the sinner was not a resident. Con
 sternation prevailed among the scions of the Pilgrim fathers, aud on Monday after the Mercury reporter gave the little affair away every Pilgrim mother who was the Madonna of her own tubs, uplifted her sudsy palm in righteous indignation.
 But what was all this fuss about?
 The strange thing happened during the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Huntington D.D Now this white crsvatted divine was it. lustrious for much learning and for hospi- tality, ever extended hand to the calls of sweet charity, had knack for settling neighborhood disputes, called peace mak
 ing, and was, altogether, @ nice, uusus- pecting old gentleman. Tonight Mrs. Huntington had cleared away the corn col
 pred supper of mush, and the candle light hickered through the 5x6 window panes hke star in the concave. A rap at the door, and the reverend Joseph had ushered a stranger within thegates. Hewas no land gent, eye doctor or picture vendor A modern preacher in the city of churches declares that if he dIes before his time, 1t will be from exhausted vitality, being bored with these agents of all sorts, but our eminent doctor gave patient credence to the plausive story of the gentleman, who said he had been preaching at Sus- quehannah, had unfortunately been driven from his possessions there by band of Mohegans, that his property was all de- stroyed by them, and that he was bound tor the state of Massachusetts where he had friends. Hasn't this last part of the tale had peculiar, transmissible, consti- tutionaI taint? At the same time begged charity. With characteristic liberality the Clergyman gave him welcome to remain over the Sabbath, as travelling on that day would be an innovation. Tie acquaint- ance progressed, and their conversation waxed warm upon subjects grave and mo mentous, and the good man invited tue reverend brother to assist him in the du- ties of his office next day. Only one ob- jection was raised; his clothes were worn and travel-stained, and he could not appear | In them before congregation. Now our | uuu0IDhlQ 6CO0OmtChl IulDlSbcN hh0 iuHb paid out the little balance in the parso- mage treasury for a much needed, nice, new suit, the loan of which he offered to the clerical tourist. It was tried on and we'll suited his dignifed proportions
 Evening was wearing away, the brother was fatigued, and as a preparation for the Sabbath would necessitate his studying far into the night hoped no noise he might make would disturb their slumbers, He then was shown to the upIier spare cham. Fbex, which had been warmed and lighted | by the considerate woman who matronized the raanse. A moist, cumulative cloud ob- scured the light of the silver moon, and each inmate of the parsonage who had no other business on hand slept. Next morn ing the hospitabie parson ascended the stairway and knocked at the door of the guest chamber, respectfully opening the same to summon the gentleman to break. fast strange silence and an aroma of the weed broke over his astonished senses, everything in the room from tho undis- turbed tall-masted bed down to the ashes upon the hearth seemed to voice the med ley, "tho' lost to sight to memory dear empty is the wardrobe, the new clothes are gone" Upon the little cherry stand was slip of paper with the we'll adapted text, "ye shall seek me and shall not find me, and where am thither ye cannot come.